The Consort by Idun Asther

Author:Idun Asther [Asther, Idun]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-07-22T16:00:00+00:00

When Ash came to, some indefinable amount of time later, he found himself paralysed; not entirely, as he could bend his head and struggle forward an inch or two, but his hands and feet were shackled to the icy wall behind him. Iron bands were cutting into his wrists and ankles, and he could focus on nothing in the dark except the pain where the shackles were rubbing his skin raw, even through his clothing. Soon, however, his eyes grew accustomed to the faint light from the lantern on the ground, and the full horror of his situation began to dawn on him.

There, not ten feet away, stood two figures and, judging by its immense height, one was the horror which had awaited them.

Ash whimpered, his attention fixed upon that apparition. He knew what it, what he, was, but his rational mind struggled against such a conclusion, for it was utter lunacy. And yet, what else could this thing be? It was tall — unnaturally so — and human at first glance, naked flesh barely covered with golden finery and studded with rubies. But, at second glance, on raising one's eyes, any trace of humanity vanished from the creature.

Ash tasted the salt of his own sweat at the corners of his mouth. He could not deny the evidence of his own eyes, no matter how much he wished to.

The thing was human only up to its neck. Its head was that of an animal: not quite jackal, not quite dog, not quite fox, not quite anything Ash had ever seen except in the pages of very rare, old books.

It was only then that it fully dawned on him that only he was shackled to the wall. Professor Hogarth was unrestrained, facing the creature and talking to it. No, arguing with it; he sounded angrier than Ash had ever known him to be. Hogarth was speaking Arabic, though Ash could not understand all the words.

Suddenly, both Hogarth and the creature became aware that Ash had regained consciousness. The thing moved closer, but not by walking. It was some distance away and, suddenly, it was immediately before Ash, staring into his sweat-beaded face with dead animal eyes.

"No, Lord!" called Professor Hogarth.

Ash held his breath. Lord?

The creature flew around, advancing on the professor just as quickly, towering even over his tall stature in a menacing stance. And then, to Ash's unbearable horror, it opened its snout and spoke in a voice like thunder. "How dare you!"

Ash shuddered.

Professor Hogarth flinched, but held his ground, fear etched into every line of his face but determination in his stance. "Forgive me, Lord. I merely—"

The creature let out a furious growl that seemed to shake the very walls of the tomb. "Be silent!" it hissed. "Remember your place, Hogarth. Remember why I am here."

Ash grew fainter by the moment. "Professor," he stammered, his voice sounding as if he had been without water for days.

"Ash, please be quiet," Hogarth implored.

"I— I don't understand."

The thing turned to face Ash again, made to move towards him, but Hogarth stepped in the way.

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